The Demon's Daughter

Healing

Madison awoke to sunlight streaming through the window. She looked around the unfamiliar room in a panic. She didn’t remember much about what happened only that she had managed to get out of her house. Everything else was a blur. She remembered snow and wolves. Yes, there had been werewolves. She had found Cillian. Or she had found some werewolves. She wasn’t sure exactly which it was. She looked down and noticed her naked body had been expertly bandaged. Someone had taken care of her. She struggled to sit up, gasping at the pain in her lower back. Within seconds, the door opened, and a young woman came in.

                “You shouldn’t move too much,” she said.

                Madison didn’t speak at first. She studied this new person. She saw the way the woman’s nose twitched. She was smelling something. She was a werewolf.

                “You’re bleeding still,” the woman said. “Let me take a look.” She took a few steps toward the bed.

                Madison shrank back. “Who are you?” she asked.

                “Calm down,” the woman replied gently. “I’m Ash. I bandaged you up when you came in two days ago. You’re safe here.”

                Madison didn’t look convinced.

                “Do you remember being in the woods the other night?” Ash asked.

                Madison shook her head. “It’s a bit of a blur,” she admitted.

                “Do you remember what you were looking for?” Ash question.

                “Cillian,” Madison said. “Crescent Moon Pack.”

                “You found us,” Ash said with a laugh. “Well, Owen and Tiernan found you, bleeding to death and almost frozen in the woods, but here you are now.”

                “Where’s Cillian?” Madison asked.

                Ash frowned for a moment but was quick to hide her expression. “He’s out,” she answered. “He’ll be back soon, I’m sure. Can I check your wounds now? They should have stopped bleeding, so it’s a bit worrisome.”

                Madison nodded and allowed Ash to approach. Ash undid the bandage on Madison’s lower back and found the culprit. The large wound on her lower back was still bleeding.

                “Do you want to talk about what happened to you?” Ash asked as she applied some more healing balm to the open wound.

                “No,” Madison said shortly.

                “I can tell it was demons,” Ash said. “I know that cuts from a demon burn something fierce too. I’m surprised you’re even awake right now.”

                “I’m used to it,” Madison replied.

                Ash was careful to hide her displeasure at Madison’s remark. How could her family do something like this to her more than once? Did Cillian know about this? How could he have left her there if he did?

                “How did you get to the Blue Mountains?” Ash asked.

                “A very fed up nymph and some helpful trees,” Madison answered.

                Ash laughed under her breath. “I always wondered what it was like to travel by tree.”

                “It felt like being torn into a million pieces,” Madison admitted. “Then right before you’re shredded, you're spat out in a new place. I still prefer it to the Hell Express though.”

                “Yuck, Cillian mentioned that,” Ash said. “I’ll stick to running.”

                “If I had super speed, I would too,” Madison agreed.

    Madison found talking to Ash to be a comfort. Madison only had one friend at school and that was Jane. While Jane was a great friend, she was also limited in many ways being a human with no direct knowledge of the supernatural world. The only other females Madison have ever interacted with were her own mother and Lily. Lily, she thought sadly. She wondered if her brothers had tortured her further. They had to know the nymph helped her escape. She prayed they wouldn’t figure out where she went. Cillian had never spoken about his pack, so Madison didn’t know if they were strong enough to take on five angry demons.

    “Do you want me to wash your hair?” Ash asked. “I tried to get the leaves and stuff out while you were passed out, but it’s a mess. It might make you feel better.”

    “I don’t think much will make me feel better, but I suppose we can try,” Madison replied.

    Ash left and returned with a bowl of water, some soap and towels, and another young woman. She introduced the other woman as Liv, her sister. The two did look remarkably similar. They were both tall and fit. They had dark hair and eyes, similar to Cillian’s. Madison could see the family resemblance now.

    “Cillian didn’t mention you were this small,” Liv remarked as she helped Ash wash Madison’s hair.

    “Cillian didn’t mention he had sisters either,” Madison said.

    The women laughed.

    “He’s not one to brag,” Ash replied sarcastically.

    “Why did you come to him for help and not like your parents or something?” Liv asked.

    Madison frowned. “It’s complicated in my family,” she settled on. “I thought Cillian might be able to help me.”

    Ash and Liv looked at each other. They were about to speak, but they heard someone in the hall. Ash quickly finished braiding Madison’s hair, knowing it was Cillian and he would want them gone. As predicted, Cillian appeared in the doorway.

    “Brother,” Liv said.

    “Alpha,” Ash stated.

    “Out, both of you,” Cillian ordered.

    The women nodded and left.

    “How do you feel?” Cillian asked once they were gone.

    “How long was I out?” Madison countered.

    “Two days.”

    Madison nodded. “All things considered, I’m all right then,” she said.

    “Your brothers did this to you, didn’t they?” Cillian questioned. He didn’t need an answer. He already knew it. Still, he felt his anger rising as Madison nodded.

    “Rob and the others are free though,” Madison said. “I was able to channel magic and do it.”

    “Do you have a death wish?” Cillian growled. “You’re a human, Maddy. Channeling magic could have killed you! Setting them free obviously gave your brothers a reason to torture you.”

    “You think they needed a reason?” Madison scoffed. “They torture me everyday they’re home because it’s fun to watch me bleed. They don’t need a reason, Cillian.” She was aware she was shouting now, and knowing werewolves had heightened senses, she figured everyone in the house could hear her.

    “Why didn’t you say something when I dropped you off?” Cillian asked, forcing himself to be calm.

    “Like what? ‘Hey, by the way, this place is a living hell. Thanks for the lift though.’” Madison said sardonically. “What would you have done if I had told you, huh?”

    “I sure as hell wouldn’t have f*****g left you there on your own,” Cillian shouted. “If I had known your own brothers would tear you apart, I would have done something.”

    “You don’t think others have tried?” Madison asked with a short laugh. “Azrael asked my father if I could stay with him for the holidays just to get me out of that place, but my father refused. He knew what was going to happen. My father always knows. He just doesn’t care to stop it.” She paused, breathing heavily and blinking back tears. “That’s my punishment in his eyes. I had the audacity to be born a human, so I should have to suffer.”

    Cillian was too stunned to reply.

    “Look, it was stupid to come here,” Madison said, trying to get up from the bed. “I should go.”

    “You’re not going anywhere,” Cillian retorted, going over and gently, but firmly pushing her back onto the bed. “You can barely stand. You’re staying here until I say.”

    Madison glared at him. “You may be the alpha of your pack, but I’m not required to listen to you,” she snapped. “Now let go.” She went to shove his hand away, but he easily caught her wrist with his free hand.

    “Alpha or not, let’s remember who’s stronger,” Cillian said dangerously. He let go of Madison’s arms. “You’re staying here. That’s final.” With that he left the room.

    “Jerk,” Madison said under her breath, knowing full well he could still hear her.

    Ash came in a few minutes later with a plate of food. “You must be hungry,” she said lightly. “And even if you’re not, it’ll keep your strength up.”

    “You heard all of that, didn’t you?” Madison asked.

    “All of what?” Ash said, feigning innocence.

    Madison narrowed her eyes.

    “Oh, you and him arguing. Yeah, we all heard that,” Ash admitted.

    Madison sighed. “I shouldn’t have come here,” she muttered.

    “I’m glad you came here,” Ash said.

    Madison looked at her quizzically.

    “What? None of my brothers will bite you,” she said. “That’s an improvement on where you were.”

    “Thank god for that,” Madison replied. “Demon bites hurt, but they don’t cause me to turn into a demon. Werewolf bites though.” She shook her head.

    Ash laughed. “I’ve never bitten a human, so you’re safe with me.”

    Blue eyes, Madison thought suddenly. She remembered seeing blue eyes. A blue-eyed wolf was one who had killed an innocent. Alphas had red eyes, and everyone else had yellow unless they had killed an innocent human. The wolf who had laid down next to her in the woods had killed a human.  

    “Are you okay?” Ash asked.

    “Yeah,” Madison answered a bit too quickly. “Everything hurts is all.”

    Ash nodded. “I bet. I’ll see if I can get more healing balm. I’m sure the witch in town has something stronger.” She stood up and left.

    There was a town nearby, Madison thought. If she could get out of this house, she could find someone to help her get back to the human world. She couldn’t outrun a wolf normally though, and definitely not in her condition now. She’d need to be stealthy. She’d also need to be a bit stronger. Right now, she could barely move.

    “She’s feisty,” Liam remarked as he sparred with Cillian.

    “She’s a stubborn brat,” Cillian retorted.

    Liam chuckled. “Let her leave then,” he suggested.

    Cillian threw a punch that connected with Liam’s right side, causing the man to stumble. “And let her die?” he asked as he towered over his brother. “Then I lose my job. Nah, she’ll stay here.”

    “Yield,” Liam said, trying to catch his breath. “You’re taking this more seriously than most jobs.”

    “Most jobs we’ve had don’t require keeping a kid alive,” Cillian pointed out.

    Liam chuckled. “She’s not a kid. According to the others she’s a quite attractive, almost legal young woman.”

    “Get the thought out of your head,” Cillian snapped.

    “I’m interested in meeting her,” Liam remarked.

    Cillian glared at him.

    “Looks aside, she seems interesting. She risked her life to free a pack of wolves from magical collars. She was tortured by demons. I mean, she’s not a normal human by any means,” Liam said.

    Cillian shook his head. “If you’re going to talk to her then do me a favor and keep the others away. I don’t need the entire pack bombarding her.”

    “So that’s a yes, I can talk to her?” Liam pried.

    “Go ahead,” Cillian said with a sigh. “Just be polite.”

    “I always am,” Liam replied with a smirk.